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In
this Section:
Other
Sections
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After
Birth Amputations: The War in Iraq
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IED's | 500th Amputee | Statistics
| Conclusion |
Improvised
Explosive Devices
The United States is currently at war in Iraq. Many soldiers are deployed
and are exposed to significant dangers. One common offense used by the
Iraqis against American soldiers are IED’s, or improvised
explosive devices. In the news, these are referred to as roadside
bombs. These bombs are hidden in or along a road. As soldiers drive by,
the bombs are set off by remote control. Occasionally, when others come
to help their fellow soldiers, another bomb is detonated to injure the
second round of soldiers. IED’s cause harm to many soldiers. One
of the leading consequences of IED's includes amputation.
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The
500th Amputee
After soldiers are injured, they are first brought to the Andrews Air
Force Base, which is located near Washington. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays,
and Thursdays, injured soldiers arrive. This has been occurring since
2003. On Tuesday, January 16, 2007, a bleak milestone was reached. The
500th amputee resulting from the Iraqi war had arrived home. On January
12, 2007, a 24 year old corporal lost both of his legs and became the
500th amputee of the Iraqi War. After being treated briefly in Germany,
he was flown to Andrews Air Force Base, and eventually the Walter Reed
Army Medical Center. Amputations are serious injuries that are becoming
common in Iraq. Within the last four years, over 500 soldiers have suffered
from amputations. There will be many more. This will be a challenge for
our government for many years to come as it deals with rehabilitation
and counseling for these soldiers.
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Amputation
Statistics
Many soldiers from Iraq have the similar stories to one of the 500th amputee.
In fact, there have been twice as many amputations during the war in Iraq
then any other war in the past century, excluding Vietnam. Despite the
melancholy figures, there is a positive side to this situation. During
the Vietnam War, only about 75% of all amputees survived. Today, due to
advancements in medicine, 90% of amputees are able to carry on. That is
an increase of 15%. Another optimistic fact is that the number of amputees
in Iraq each year is decreasing. In 2004, there were 156 amputees, but
in 2006, 2 years later, there were 128. Any reduction in the number of
amputees due to this war is promising.
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Conclusion
There are many amputees caused by the war in Iraq. Almost 25% of the amputees
in the United States can attribute their disability to the war in Iraq.
The media relentlessly shares stories of death tolls, successes, and ambushes,
but rarely is the topic of amputation addressed. Over 500 American soldiers
have had a limb or more amputated as a result of the Iraq war. This is
a staggering number. Things are starting to look up as the death rates
and number of amputations each year decrease. Still, amputations can happen
to anyone, especially those honorable soldiers currently in Iraq.
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